Chamber For Holding A Fluid For A Heat Exchanger, Heat Exchanger, More Particularly For A Heat Exchange Unit, And A Heat Exchange Unit, In Particular In The Form Of A Monoblock

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a chamber ( 110 ) for holding a fluid for a heat exchanger, comprising a base ( 111 ) with one or more receiving openings ( 113 ) for pipes. The one or more openings ( 113 ) is or are arranged substantially in a pipe-base plane. The chamber ( 110 ) also has a cover ( 112 ) which is connected to the base ( 111 ), the connection between the base ( 111 ) and the cover ( 112 ) being arranged substantially in a chamber-base plane or in a closing plane ( 117 ). The chamber-base plane or closing plane ( 117 ) is rotated in relation to the pipe-base plane ( 118 ) by a predefinable angle ( 140, 141 ).

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage filing of International Application PCT/EP2006/001437, filed Feb. 16, 2006, claiming priority to German Application No. 10 2005 007 508.8, filed Feb. 17, 2005, entitled “CHAMBER FOR HOLDING A FLUID FOR A HEAT EXCHANGER, HEAT EXCHANGER, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR A HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT, AND A HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT, IN PARTICULAR IN THE FORM OF A MONOBLOCK”. The present application claims priority to PCT/EP2006/001437, and to German Application No. 10 2005 007 508.8, and both references are expressly incorporated by reference herein, in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a chamber for holding a fluid for a heat exchanger as well as a heat exchanger, more particularly for a heat exchanger unit.

Furthermore, the invention concerns a heat exchanger unit, particularly in the form of a monoblock.

Heat exchanger units, for example cooling modules for motor vehicles, are, as known from prior art, for example from DE 100 18 0001 A1 and DE 197 31 999 A1, groups of several heat exchangers such as coolant radiators, intercoolers, condenser or oil coolers, assembled into a construction unit and/or a module and, in the case of heat exchanger units for motor vehicles, supported on a common mounting or seat on the motor vehicle, or on a frame or a frame part of the vehicle.

In contrast to a design with separate heat exchangers or heat transfer means, installation space, manufacturing effort and manufacturing costs can be saved with such a combined design of heat exchangers and/or heat exchange means.

For heat exchanger units or cooling modules formed as a monoblock, as is also known from prior art, for example from DE 102 55 011 A1, EP 0 825 404 A1 and Japanese Patent No. Hei 1-224163, the components to be combined are constructed together and then soldered.

CAB soldering for all-aluminum heat exchangers is known from prior art, for instance, DE 101 12 697 A1.

Also known from prior art, for example from DE 42 22 913 A1, is the distinction for heat exchangers and/or heat exchanger units between those with a design or construction as crossflow heat exchangers and those designed as downflow heat exchangers.

FIG. 5 shows a view of a heat exchanger unit 500 known from prior art implemented as a soldered all-aluminum monoblock.

This monoblock heat exchanger unit 500 has a first heat exchanger, a coolant radiator 501 for cooling an automobile engine, as well as a second heat exchanger connected to radiator 501, a flat-tube condenser 502 for air cooling for an automobile air conditioning system, etc.

In order to realize as compact a construction of the combined arrangement as possible, radiator 501 and condenser 502 are arranged parallel to or alongside one another, connected via a common corrugated rib 530 of their respective ribbed tube blocks 515 a, b or radiator cores 515 a, b.

As FIG. 5 further shows, radiator 501 has a coolant chamber 510 consisting of a coolant chamber base 511 and a coolant chamber cover 512 connected fluid-tightly to coolant chamber base 511.

In coolant chamber base 511 which, as FIG. 5 shows, is flat in construction, receiving openings 513, not shown in detail, are provided for tubes 514, in this case flat tubes 514, of ribbed tube block 515 a. If desired, such a coolant chamber base 511, with corresponding receiving openings 513 can also be slightly curved.

A closure plane 517 between coolant chamber base 511, and coolant chamber cover 512, or between a chamber-base plane 517 is, as FIG. 5 clearly shows, oriented parallel 540 to a connection plane 518 between coolant chamber base 511, and ribbed tube block 515 a or radiator core 515 a or to a tube-base plane 518 formed by receiving openings 513.

In other words, closure plane 517 is oriented perpendicular 541 to ribbed-tube core 515 a or coolant core 515 a, that is, in visual terms, coolant chamber 510 or coolant chamber cover 512 are formed in an upright orientation relative to ribbed tube block 515 a or radiator core 515 a.

A connection flange 516 for an inflow or outflow of the coolant is provided on coolant chamber cover 512.

As FIG. 5 further shows, flat-tube condenser 502 has a condenser collector 520, collector 520 in short, which likewise has receiving openings 523, not shown, for flat tubes 524 of ribbed tube block 515 b.

Radiator 501, due to its use for engine cooling and the associated larger amount of necessary cooling fluid compared to condenser 502, has a larger, i.e., deeper construction, than the latter, which, considering the parallel arrangement, leads to a larger distance 519 between the parallel-arranged heat exchangers, and thus to a larger, i.e. deeper, overall dimension of the combined arrangement.

Beyond that, it is disadvantageous for such a heat exchanging unit in the form of a soldered all-aluminum monoblock, that mounting of additional holders such as those for add-on components or holders for installation in a vehicle, for instance, leads to increased effort and causes elevated costs.

It further proves disadvantageous with such a heat transfer unit in the form of a soldered all-aluminum monoblock that the effort and thus the costs are increased in manufacturing the block, due to the numerous individual components that must be precisely matched to one another and soldered, such as the chamber base, cover and tubes.

The resulting number of soldered connections further increases the probability of a loss of integrity.

Monoblocks or heat exchangers manufactured alternatively, by mechanical joining, can only be of limited help here since they can normally only be installed in vehicles with low engine power, because their performance is limited. Furthermore, these heat exchanger units generally do not satisfy high strength requirements.

The invention is therefore based on the problem of creating a heat exchanger which is easily and economically manufactured and allows smaller overall sizes, particularly for a heat exchanger unit, more particularly in the form of a monoblock.

This problem is solved by a chamber for holding a fluid for a heat exchanger, a heat exchanger, more particularly for heat exchanger units, as well as a heat exchanger unit, more particularly, in the form of a monoblock, with the characteristics of the respective independent claim.

Advantageous embodiments and improvements are the subject matter of the subordinate claims. The subject matter of the subordinate claims refers to the inventive chamber, to the inventive heat exchanger as well as to the inventive heat exchanger unit.

In particular, a chamber for holding a fluid is proposed by the invention.

This fluid is preferably a coolant, for which reason the chamber is also referred to as a coolant chamber, or, in short, a chamber, without thereby constituting a limitation.

This coolant chamber is preferably intended for a heat exchanger such as a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle. This coolant chamber is particularly preferred for a heat exchanger of a heat exchanging unit consisting of combined heat exchangers such as a coolant module, particularly in the form of a monoblock.

The heat exchanger or heat exchanger unit in this case can be implemented in a construction or design as a cross-current or as a falling-film heat exchanger.

The coolant chamber has at least one base with one or more receiving openings for tubes (tube-base connection). In particular, the latter are connecting tubes.

The tubes can, for example, be shaped as flat tubes and be a component of a ribbed tube block, constructed for instance as a radiator core, which is connected via a connection plane or a tube-base plane to the coolant chamber base.

In other words, the one or more openings form or are arranged in essentially one plane, the tube-base plane, being oriented essentially perpendicular to the ribbed tube block or to the radiator core.

The coolant chamber further comprises a cover connected to the body, wherein the connection between the base and the cover is arranged essentially in an additional plane—a chamber-base plane or a closure plane.

According to the invention this chamber-base plane or closure plane is rotated relative to the tube-base plane by an acute angle; that is, in visual terms, it is slanted in construction relative to the ribbed tube block or the radiator core.

This angle or this rotation between the planes can preferably be realized by constructing the base as a component that is substantially open in the direction of the cover, and/or is substantially wedge-shaped or trapezoidal shaped in cross-section.

It can also be preferably provided that the angle is an acute angle, particularly in a range from 15° to 75°.

Additionally, the predetermined angle or the chamber and/or the base can be formed such that in an opening area of the predetermined angle, more particularly, the acute angle, a component adjacent to the chamber, more particularly, a collector tube such as a condenser collector tube of an adjacent condenser, is arranged.

It is also particularly preferred for the cover and/or the base, but particularly the cover, to be constructed of a plastic, for instance, a stable plastic such as polyamide.

It is again particularly preferred that for the particularly fluid-tight connection between the base and the cover, closure means, particularly conventional closing means such as flanging and or clip connections and or snap connections, which likewise can be provided with a gasket, are provided.

The latter are preferably arranged in the area of the closure plane on the base, for instance, circumferential crimps or crimped edges or flange-like edges.

The predetermined angle can also be defined as a function of the size of the chamber, particularly the width of the chamber, of the size of the base, particularly the width of the base, of the size of the closure means and or of the size of components adjacent to the chamber, particularly a collector tube such as a condensate collector tube.

It is additionally preferred for the tube-base connection to be realized in a conventional manner, for instance, by soldering (in) and or mechanically joining (inserting) the tubes in the base, consisting in this case preferably of aluminum. CAB-soldering is known in this regard from prior art.

In a preferred improvement, at least one holder for an add-on component such as a fan, an intercooler, an oil cooler, and or a mount such as a vehicle mount is provided on the chamber, in particular on the plastic cover of the chamber.

It is particularly preferred to provide in this regard that the at least one holder is integrated into the chamber, in particular into the plastic cover.

It can also be provided for a flat-tube transmission fluid cooler to be integrated into the chamber, particularly into the plastic cover.

According to the invention, a heat exchanger, in particular, for a heat exchanger unit such as a coolant cooler for a cooling module in a motor vehicle is additionally proposed.

This heat exchanger comprises a ribbed tube block, constructed for instance as a radiator core, and the inventive chamber, or an improved inventive chamber, in particular with a plastic cover and an aluminum base. Tubes of the ribbed tube block open into the chamber in the area of the chamber base.

It is preferably provided for this tube-base connection that the tubes, in particular connecting tubes such as flat tubes, are soldered (to), and/or mechanically joined (inserted into) the base, in particular the openings.

It is additionally preferred for closure means, particularly conventional closing means such as flanging, and/or a snap fitting and/or a clip connector, to be used for the particularly fluid tight connection between the base and the cover.

Without requiring further explanation, it can be provided to arrange chambers according to the invention, or improved chambers according to the invention, on both sides of the ribbed tube block or the radiator core.

According to the invention a heat exchanger unit, in particular implemented as a monoblock, is also proposed.

This heat exchanger unit has a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger arranged adjacent to, in particular, parallel to the first heat exchanger, and a condenser or the like arranged adjacent to the coolant chamber.

The first heat exchanger, in particular the coolant radiator, comprises the chamber according to the invention, or a further improved chamber according to the invention, in particular with a plastic cover and an aluminum base.

Particularly preferentially, a collector, in particular a condenser collector of the second heat exchanger, is arranged in an opening area of the predetermined angle.

It is particularly preferred also to provide for the heat exchanger unit to be implemented as a monoblock, for example, as a monoblock consisting to a large extent of aluminum and/or a CAB-soldered one with cooling cores, in particular parallel ones, which are connected by a common corrugated rib.

The parallel-arranged cooling cores can be arranged on the chamber-base plane at the predetermined angle.

In particular it is expedient here for the predetermined angle to be defined as a function of at least one dimension of the chamber, in particular, the depth of the chamber, of the size of the base, in particular, the width of the base, of the size of the closure means for the connection between the cover and the base and/or of the size of the collector, in particular, the condenser collector, of the second heat exchanger.

Without requiring a detailed explanation here, it can be provided for the chamber according to the invention, or further improved chambers according to the invention, to be arranged on both sides of the ribbed tube block and/or the cooling core. The same applies to the collectors of the second heat exchanger.

Some particularly favorable aspects of the invention and their further development will be emphasized below.

In contrast to a conventional heat exchanger, for example, a known heat exchanger unit implemented as a soldered all-aluminum monoblock and/or mechanically joined monoblock, the closure plane between the chamber and the base in the heat exchanger according to the invention is not perpendicular to the cooling core, but forms an angle, the predetermined angle.

It can be achieved in this way that the chamber-base connection of the heat exchanger according to the invention lies outside of the collector and/or the collector of the additional heat exchanger, for example a condenser of a combined heat exchanger unit, in particular, one implemented as a monoblock of a coolant radiator according to the invention and the condenser that is arranged on the side parallel to the heat exchanger according to the invention.

In this way, a minimum distance between the heat exchangers and thus a minimum overall depth of a heat exchanger unit according to the invention can be realized.

The predetermined angle with which the closure plane for the heat exchanger according to the invention is arranged relative to the cooling core can also be selected as a function of the size of the collector or tanks of the second heat exchanger and the necessary place for the closure technology (closure implement) by means of which the cover is connected to the base in the chamber or the heat exchanger according to the invention.

Like a heat exchanger unit known from prior art in the form of a soldered all-aluminum monoblock, for example, the heat exchanger unit according to the invention, in particular, implemented as a monoblock, can also have a common corrugated rib, by which parallel arranged cooling cores are connected, and have a conventional tube-base connection.

The first heat exchanger of the heat exchanger unit according to the invention, for example a coolant radiator, can have additionally, and in contrast to the conventional soldered all-aluminum monoblock, a plastic cover, which is fastened to the chamber base with conventional, in particular, more fluid-tight, closure technology.

Thereby it is possible to facilitate and reduce in price the mounting of additional holders, for example, for add-on components, and/or holders for installation in a vehicle, on plastic covers, in particular by integration into plastic covers or chambers.

A flat-tube transmission oil cooler can also be integrated into the chamber according to the invention, particularly into the plastic cover.

Furthermore, the heat exchanger unit according to the invention, in particular implemented as monoblock, can be CAB-soldered in the familiar manner, whereby, however, according to the invention, a smaller number of soldered connections can be used, particularly when a plastic cover is employed, which can be connected to the base with the conventional closure technology that is possible for plastic parts between a cover and a base.

The resulting smaller number of solder joints decreases the probability of leakage and increases integrity.

It is particularly advantageous that the chamber is suitable for being provided with a heat exchanger having a soldered block, flat tubes and straight ribs with openings through which flat tubes pass, the term “flat tubes” being understood, both in the specification and in the claims of the present application, to mean slightly oval-shaped (bulging) flat tubes as well, i.e., those with slightly curved long sides. The plate-like ribs are thus slipped over the flat tubes and soldered thereto, for which contact areas are provided at the openings of the ribs, which produce the material-bonded connection after the soldering, and thus an outstanding heat transfer between ribs and flat tubes. The ribs and tubes preferably consist of aluminum and/or aluminum alloys, which are joined by a hard soldering process into a fixed core. On the one hand, this combination of flat tubes and straight ribs yields a minimum air-side pressure drop and a high heat exchanger performance. At the same time, manufacturing costs are reduced in relation to the conventional flat tubing/corrugated rib system by a simplified core formation process, i.e. by slipping the ribs onto the flat tubes. Since the ribs for the soldering process no longer have to fulfill the function of exerting pressure to assure a rib-tube contact, their thickness can be reduced. Beyond that, there is the system-dependent advantage that the pipes can be offset in air flow direction, i.e., arranged with gaps. In that way the performance can be increased. The flat tubes can have any depth (in the air flow direction) in relation to their width (transverse to the air flow direction) and can also be constructed as folded multi-chamber pipes, beaded pipes or pipes with small ridges. Since the tube cross section in the area of the ribs is enclosed completely by a rib in each case, expansion due to internal pressure is prevented. There is also advantage that the pipes can be manufactured with substantially smaller wall thickness, since expansion is eliminated. Such a heat exchanger is disclosed in DE 10 2005 032 812 A1, the entire disclosure of which is herewith enclosed by reference.

Furthermore, the chamber is particularly suitable for heat exchangers such as heating elements, coolant radiators, intercoolers, oil cooler, exhaust gas cooler, condensers for air conditioning systems, evaporators for an air conditioning system, a refrigerant cooler for an air conditioning system, etc.

The chamber is just as advantageously suitable for at least one cooling module. At least two heat exchangers are arranged in a cooling module. The cooling module can have at least one condenser for an air conditioning system and/or an intercooler and/or a coolant radiator and/or a heating element and/or an exhaust gas cooler and/or an oil cooler and/or a condenser for an air conditioning system.

The chamber is also particularly favorably suitable for a so-called monoblock. In a monoblock the refrigerant condenser and coolant radiator are integrated into one unit. Unlike the separate arrangement of the two heat exchangers in conventional construction methods, for which the chamber is also very well suited in other respects, overall depth is saved with the monoblock design. In addition, the monoblock provides better cooling performance both for the coolant and for the refrigerant. The reason for this is the lower pressure loss and the better inflow of cooling air into the monoblock. The stronger cooling of the refrigerant leads to a faster cooling of the vehicle cab, thus increasing travel comfort. The refrigerant condenser and the coolant radiator particularly advantageously have common ribs, in particular corrugated ribs.

The chamber is also particularly suitable for a so-called flexiblock. In a flexiblock, the refrigerant condenser and the coolant radiator are connected to form a unit, particularly by material bonding such as soldering, welding, adhesion, etc. and/or by a positive connection. In the flexiblock, in contrast to the monoblock, first ribs, particularly corrugated ribs, are arranged in the coolant radiator and second ribs, particularly corrugated ribs, are arranged in the refrigerant condenser. The advantage of the flexiblock is the fact that different implementations of refrigerant condensers can be combined at will with different implementations of coolant radiators.

Moreover, the chamber is also suitable for a heat exchanger with curved tubes and/or a curved heat exchanger block.

The heat exchanger is particularly intended for a motor vehicle, as, for example, a coolant radiator, a condenser, a transmission oil cooler or a low-temperature radiator for a motor vehicle.

This heat exchanger has at least one rib-tube block forming, in particular, a heat exchanger or heat transfer core, and at the end of tubes from the rib-tube block, associated collecting chambers such as condensate collectors of coolant chambers. “Associated” is to be understood in this regard as a fluidic, in particular, a fluid-tight connection between the tubes, for instance, flat tubes and the collecting spaces, for example box-like or tubular collecting spaces. It is preferably provided for this connection that the tubes, in particular, connecting tubes, are soldered (to) and/or mechanically joined to (inserted into) the (respective associated) collecting area, in particular the (respective associated) openings of the collecting space.

It is further proposed to form at least one rib-tube block in essentially an arched shape in the longitudinal direction of the tubes, i.e., in the running direction of the tubes between the collecting areas. In visual terms, a “curved heat exchanger” or a heat exchanger with a “curved heat exchanger core or cooling core” is produced thereby. This essentially bent shape can be realized, for example, by bending or curving the tubes of a rib-tube block and/or a cooling core over their entire longitudinal extent with a uniform predetermined radius or with continuously or also discontinuously changing radii (the entire core is bent uniformly or with different radii). This form can also be realized by bending or curving the tubes of a rib-tube block and/or a cooling core over part of their longitudinal extent, for example, only in the core's center or in two or more parts with one or more predetermined radii. This heat exchanger is described in the applications DE 10 2006 004 982.9 (unpublished) and DE 10 2005 007 503.7 (unpublished) of the applicant, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

The invention and further advantages will be described below in several embodiments, without thereby restricting the invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A chamber (110) for holding a fluid for a heat exchanger, comprising a base (111) with one or more receiving openings (113) for pipes. The one or more openings (113) is or are arranged substantially in a pipe-base plane. The chamber (110) also has a cover (112) which is connected to the base (111), the connection between the base (111) and the cover (112) being arranged substantially in a chamber-base plane or in a closing plane (117). The chamber-base plane or closing plane (117) is rotated in relation to the pipe-base plane (118) by a predefinable angle (140, 141).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view of an exemplary inventive coolant chamber base of an inventive coolant radiator for a heat exchanger unit of the invention, implemented for example as a monoblock (cooling module).

FIG. 2 shows a cutout view of an exemplary coolant chamber according to the invention with the coolant chamber cover of a cooling module according to the invention removed.

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of an exemplary inventive coolant chamber of an inventive coolant radiator of a cooling module according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows another view of the exemplary inventive coolant chamber of an inventive coolant radiator for a cooling module according to the invention from FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a coolant chamber of a coolant radiator for a monoblock cooling module from prior art.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary inventive coolant chamber of an inventive coolant radiator for a cooling module according to the invention, in particular, for illustrating the smaller distance (in comparison to FIG. 5) between the heat exchangers arranged in parallel.

FIGS. 1-4 and 6 show different views of a heat exchanger unit according to the invention and/or a cooling module 100 formed as a monoblock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and its use, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.

This monoblock cooling module 500 has a first heat exchanger, a coolant radiator 101 for cooling an automobile engine, as well as a second heat exchanger combined with radiator 101, a flat tubular condenser 102 for air cooling for an automotive air conditioning system.

In order to realize as compact a design of the combined arrangement as possible, radiator 101 and condenser 102 are arranged parallel to or alongside each other connected via a common corrugated rib 130 of their respective tubing rib blocks 115 a, b or radiator cores 115 a, b.

As FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular show radiator 101—here only one of the two correspondingly shaped coolant chambers 110 arranged on both sides of tubing rib block 115 a is shown—a diagonally situated coolant chamber 110, consisting of a coolant chamber base 111 and a coolant chamber cover 112 connected to chamber base 111.

Coolant chamber base 111, which, as FIG. 3 in particular shows, is shaped flat in the area of the connection to rib-tube block 115 a, receiving openings 113, implicitly visible in FIG. 1, are provided for tubes 114, in this case flat tubes 114, of ribbed tube block 115 a.

If desired, such a coolant chamber base 111 can easily also be curved in this connection area with corresponding receiving openings 113.

A closure plane 117 between coolant chamber base 111 and coolant chamber cover 112, or a chamber-base plane 117, is, as FIG. 3 clearly shows, tilted or rotated 140 by a predetermined angle 141, in this case an acute angle of approximately 20° relative to a connection plane 118 between coolant chamber base 111 and tubing rib block 115 a or cooling core 115 a, or a tube-base plane 118 formed by receiving openings 113.

In other words, closure plane 117 is oriented on a slant 140 and not perpendicularly to tubing rib block 115 a or cooling core 115 a, i.e., in descriptive terms, coolant chamber 110 or coolant chamber cover 112 standing at a slant 140 relative to the ribbed tube block 115 a or cooling core 115 a.

This incline 140 is realized, as is recognizable from FIG. 1 for example, by forming coolant chamber base 111 as a component substantially open toward coolant chamber cover 112, provided there with closure means 150 for engagement with coolant chamber cover 112, and essentially wedge-shaped in cross section.

The size or the height of incline 140, or the angle of incline 141, depends on the size of a collector 120 of flat tubular condenser 102 and the necessary space for the closure technology 150, by means of which coolant chamber cover 112 is connected to coolant chamber base 111 with radiator 101.

Incline 140, without restriction of generality, can also be dependent on the size of coolant chamber 110, particularly its width, or on the size of coolant chamber base 111, particularly its width, or on the size of other components adjacent to coolant chamber 110, similarly to collector 120.

Due to this incline 140, the chamber-base connection of radiator 101 lies, on the side of flat tubular condenser 102, outside of condenser collector 120.

In this way a minimum distance between radiator 101 and flat tubular condenser 102, and thus a minimum overall depth, can be realized with monoblock cooling module 100.

A connection flange 116 for inflow or outflow of coolant is provided on coolant chamber cover 112.

As, for example FIG. 3 additionally shows, flat tubular condenser 102—here only one of the two correspondingly constructed collectors 120 arranged on either side of ribbed tube block 115 b is shown—has a condenser collector 120, in short collector 120, formed with an essentially circular cross section, which has receiving openings 123, not visible in detail, for flat tubes 124 of tubing rib block 115 b.

Due to its use for engine cooling and the associated larger quantity of coolant required compared to condenser 102, radiator 101 has, as is well known, a larger, i.e., deeper, overall shape than the latter; however, according to the invention, the inclined arrangement of coolant chamber 110 of radiator 101 leads to a smaller distance 119 between the heat exchangers arranged in parallel to one another and thus to smaller, i.e., less deep, overall dimensions of the combined arrangement.

The monoblock cooling module 100 according to the invention, or its radiator 101, specifically its coolant chamber 110, or its coolant chambers 110 arranged on both sides of tubing rib support 115 a, (each) have a plastic (chamber) cover 112 made of polyamide, which is affixed to coolant chamber base 111 with conventional, fluid-tight closure technology 150, such as flanging and/or a snap or clip connection.

The coolant chamber base or bases 111 are made of an aluminum material, whereby the connection between ribbed tube block 115 a or flat tubes 114 and the coolant chamber base or bases can be produced in the conventional manner.

FIGS. 1-4 and 6 show a flange closure 150 with circumferential flange edges on plastic cover 112 and aluminum base 111, where the closure 150 is brought about by pressing plastic cover 112 into aluminum base 111.

Additionally, there is a gasket, not shown in detail, between plastic cover 112 and aluminum base 111, which contributes to an enhancement of the fluid-tight connection between the two parts.

That is, by implementing coolant chamber cover 112 as a plastic part, not shown in detail here, additional holders, for example for add-on components, such as fans, intercoolers, oil coolers, or holders for installation in a vehicle, for example, can thus be attached to cooling module 100 more easily and at lower cost.

The other components of monoblock cooling module 100 are made of an aluminum material and are soldered with the familiar CAB process in only one soldering step.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. 

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A chamber for holding a fluid, such as a coolant, particularly for a heat exchanger, with at least one base in which one or more openings are provided for receiving tubes, particularly connection tubes such as flat tubes, wherein the one or more openings is or are arranged in a tube-base plane, and a cover connected to the base, wherein the connection is arranged between the base and the cover in a chamber-base plane, characterized in that the chamber-base plane is arranged opposite the tube-base plane rotated by a pre-determined angle.
 23. The chamber according to claim 22, characterized in that the base is implemented as a component substantially open in the direction of the cover or essentially wedge-shaped or trapezoidal.
 24. The chamber according to claim 22, characterized in that the cover and or the base consists of plastic such as polyamide, specifically the cover is made of plastic and the base of an aluminum material.
 25. The chamber according to claim 22, characterized in that closure means, particularly conventional closing means such as flanging and or snap and or clip connection, are provided for the connection between the base and the cover.
 26. The chamber according to claim 22 characterized in that the predetermined angle is an acute angle in a range from 15° to 75°.
 27. The chamber according to claim 25, characterized in that the predetermined angle is defined as a function of the size of the chamber, particularly the width of the chamber, of the size of the base, particularly the width of the base, of the size of the closure means, and/or of the size of components adjacent to the chamber, in particular, a collection tube such as condenser collection tube.
 28. The chamber according to claim 22, characterized in that a component adjacent to the chamber, in particular, a collection tube, such as a condenser collection tube, is arranged in an opening area of the predetermined angle.
 29. The chamber according to claim 22, characterized in that tubes are soldered (into) or joined to (inserted into) the base, in particular, the openings.
 30. The chamber according to claim 22, characterized in that at least one holder for an add-on component such as a fan, an intercooler, an oil cooler, and/or for a mount such as a vehicle mount on the chamber, particularly on the cover of the chamber.
 31. The chamber according to claim 22, characterized in that at least one holder is integrated into the cover of the chamber.
 32. The chamber according to claim 22, characterized in that a flat-tube transmission fluid cooler is integrated into the cover of the chamber.
 33. The chamber according to claim 22, which is used for a heat exchanger as part of a coolant radiator in a motor vehicle, wherein tubes of a ribbed tube block of the heat exchanger open into the area of the base of the chamber.
 34. The chamber according to claim 22, which is used for heat exchanger of a heat exchanger unit such as a heat exchanger consisting of at least one coolant radiator and one condenser, particularly in the form of a monoblock, wherein the chamber is used specifically as the coolant chamber of the coolant radiator.
 35. A heat exchanger for a heat exchanger unit in the form of a coolant radiator for a cooling module in a motor vehicle, with a tube rib block and the chamber according to claim 22, in particular, with a plastic cover and plastic base, wherein tubes of the tube rib block open into the chamber in the area of the chamber base.
 36. The heat exchanger according to claim 35, characterized in that the tubes, in particular, connecting tubes such as flat tubes, are soldered (into) and or mechanically joined to (inserted into) the base, in particular, into the openings.
 37. The heat exchanger units, in particular, in the form of a monoblock, with at least one heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger arranged adjacent, particularly parallel thereto, such as a coolant radiator and a condenser arranged adjacent to the coolant radiator, wherein the first heat exchanger has a chamber according to claim 22, with a plastic cover and an aluminum base.
 38. The heat exchanger unit, according claim 37, characterized in that a collector, in particular, a condenser collector of the second heat exchanger is arranged in an opening area of the predetermined angle.
 39. The heat exchanger unit according to claim 35, characterized in that the heat exchanger unit is implemented as a monoblock with parallel-arranged radiator cores, which are connected via a common corrugated rib.
 40. The heat exchanger unit according to claim 35, characterized in that at least one radiator core is arranged in the predetermined angle to the chamber-base plane.
 41. The heat exchanger unit according to claim 35, characterized in that the monoblock is substantially CAB-welded.
 42. The heat exchanger unit according to claim 35, characterized in that the predetermined angle is dependent on at least one dimension of the chamber, in particular, the depth of the chamber, on the size of the base, in particular the width of the base, on the size of the closure means for the connection between the cover and the base and or on the size of the collector, in particular, the condenser collector of the second heat exchanger. 